Discipline: Animal Science
This study aimed to conserve the Philippine native carabao's adaptability with resilient traits to diseases and environmental elements focused on ensuring food security and income for small-scale carabao farmers. A total of sixty (60) carabaos were characterized which comprised of thirty (30) carabulls and thirty (30) caracows, and sixty (60) carabao farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire randomly. Assessing the qualitative characteristics of the samples, findings showed that carabaos in the Viga, Bagamanoc and Panganiban were predominantly native (78.33%) and upgraded (21.37%). These carabaos were found have 457.2 kg body weight, 182.4 cm heart girth,138.3cm shoulder height, 149.0 cm body length, 70.4 cm tail length, 44.3 cm length of head 25.3 cm width of the head and 138.1 cm height of hips, on the average. Thus, a standard error (SE) of more than 0.5 showed a close relationship between the variance and manifest inbreeding. Moreover, these carabaos were commonly used in land preparation and as source of food for human consumption (carabeef), singly or both, while rarely as source of milk. Recordkeeping (60%), tethering (90%), deworming (68.3%), vaccination (70%), provision of housing or shed (75%), and branding (58.3%) were found adopted by farmers interviewed. Likewise, five problems were met namely indiscriminate age of slaughtering, weak carabao dispersal program, diseases, lack of farmer contact with extension workers, and lack of pasture due to land conversion. Based on the findings of this study, introduction of purebred stock, adoption of improved modified management practices, more linkages with academic, and funding institutions, and a "Model Carabao Farmer" scheme to entice younger generation into carabao production are recommended.
ISSN 2984-8954 (Online)
ISSN 2984-8946 (Print)
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